Desperate Housewives Pregnant

(Warning: Harem, if you don't like it, please refrain! Boldly breaking taboo ethical norms, not letting go of any beautiful women encountered!) A young nobleman with a delicate constitution, pure and kind, has always been protected by everyone. However, after two months of military camp life, he began to change for the worse. With unbeatable power in his hands, he became lawless, targeting countless beautiful women in the city. In his eyes, every beautiful woman is like a delicate flower. He wants to gather these tender flowers around him, then extend his strong wings to shield them from any harm...

Pregnant For The PlayBoy CEO Synopsis "I'm carrying his child," I confessed. "He despises you, doesn't care," she warned, her words cutting through me. "I know—I'm his mother. Leave now, or you'll suffer my fate. Trapped with a man consumed by his children and business, not you." … Reality changed for Hannah Cooper the second she realized she was pregnant. The one night stand responsible for this was none other than billionaire player, Jackson Miller. Soon to be CEO of his father’s company, he is tasked with the duty to prove himself by presenting responsibility away from his horrible reputation. Jackson, desperate to rule the company and collect his inheritance, convinces Hannah to act as the love of his life in front of his family, and later the media. With the tides turning and the secrets thickening, they find themselves in a fake marriage that carries not just the company’s fate, but Jackson’s heart.

Lin Yunfeng screwed up. Big time. One mistake. That’s all it was. A stupid, drunken mistake. So why the hell was Ren Muchen chasing him down a creepy-ass abandoned hallway like a maniac?! "You slept with me and ran? Fine! Let’s see how long you last!" Uh, yeah. No thanks. Yunfeng ran faster, heart pounding—until he skidded to a stop. Right in front of a half-rotten zombie. "Oh, come on!" Before he could even process his impending doom, the thing lunged. His life flashed before his eyes. Then—WHACK. A massive axe took the zombie’s head clean off. And just like that, Muchen was grabbing his collar, hauling him up like a ragdoll. "You’re not dying," Muchen said, looking way too smug for someone who just saved his life. "Not today. Not anytime soon." Yunfeng barely got his breath back before Muchen dropped the biggest bomb ever. "Because we’re having a baby." Wait. What?! Yunfeng clutched his stomach. "H-How do you know?!" "You KNEW?!" Muchen shook him like a damn rattle. "And you still ran? Take responsibility, you bastard! We made a life!" Well. Shit. There was officially no running from this.

"A Rejected Omega, A Dark Alpha Prince and their twisted dangerous fate." Amelie Conley, the eldest daughter of a revered Alpha family, was once expected to carry on her family’s proud legacy. However, when she turned sixteen, she failed to awaken her wolf, which made her earn the scornful title—the Curse of the Conley Family. At eighteen, she found her destined mate and carried his child, believing she had finally been given a chance at happiness. But when she rushed to share the news, she found him in a compromising position with her younger sister, Flora. Betrayal cut deeper than any wound, but the final blow came when he rejected her without hesitation, declaring Flora as his true mate. Shunned and heartbroken, Amelie made the painful decision to leave her pack for the sake of her unborn child. But just as she tried to escape, she was ambushed—hunted down like prey. Desperate to protect herself and the life growing inside her, Amelie fled to save herself and her unborn child, only to collapse into the arms of an enigmatic stranger—Gabriel Sinclair. Gabriel was no ordinary man. He was the Alpha Prince, a name feared across the nation. For twelve long years, he had scoured the lands for his mate, only to find nothing. He had convinced himself that the Moon Goddess despised him, just as his own mother had. But the moment he laid eyes on Amelie, everything changed. "You were marked, weren't you?" His voice dropped, edged with something dangerously close to possession as his gaze met hers, demanding the truth.  The question left Amelie in a dilemma. She didn't wish to tell him the truth. "I am not an ordinary wolf, Amelie. Who the fuck marked you before me?" Gabriel voiced in a possessive yet intimidating tone.  Amelie didn’t know that the man, who saved her was none other than the infamous Dark Tyrant—the Alpha Prince, Gabriel Sinclair, whose intentions were still unknown to her. ~~~~ **The Story is a pure fiction. Names and places have nothing to do with anyone in real life.** Follow me on Instagram: rayoflight__pcy

Yasenia is a child born different from the rest, her mother, Tatyana, used an ancient technique she found to absorb the world's energy to get pregnant instead of having regular intercourse. Her objective was to create a lover for herself since the endless years of solitude and all the heartbreaks covered her heart with eternal ice. While pregnant, a strange soul seems to try to seize the body of her child to be reborn; a shame that Tatyana is someone not to be messed with. In her rage, she destroys the sense of self and memories, leaving only a husk of the soul, and uses it to nourish Yasenia. What Tatyana didn't know at that time was that this would change Yasenia in ways she never expected. Consider supporting me on Patreon.com/Mortrexo Or donating on Paypal.com/paypalme/Mortrexo Uploading on Wattpad Uploading on Scribblehub Uploading on Archive of our own (AO3). Discord: https://discord.gg/Uk9uAeWAf4 Novel Cover: https://www.patreon.com/posts/novel-cover-2-86054319 Artist: https://twitter.com/_taaakaaaa

Katherine loved to have fun. She always believed the night was still young until she had to deal with the reality of becoming a mother at an early age. Being a mother wasn't the problem, it was who the father was that bothered her. She couldn't believe she had gotten pregnant for the last man on earth she wanted to be with and worse, she knew he would never accept the baby.

A/N: this is an EROTIC novel with plot, it is not suitable for unofficial adult meaning, if you are not under 18+ **** Innes’ life is torn apart when her mate rejects her, swayed by the lies of another woman, leaving her heartbroken and pregnant. Abandoned and abused, she is vulnerable and nearly destroyed, until she meets her second mate—her husband’s brother. In a desperate bid for survival, she agrees to be his secret lover, accepting his offer to bring her wolf back to life and protect both her and her child. But even as she grows closer to him, her heart still longs for the mate who rejected her, and she keeps her hopes alive of winning him back. After the birth of her child, tragedy strikes: an accident leaves her child missing, and Iris’s memories fade. Years later, fragments of her past return, and she embarks on a desperate journey to find her lost child. As she digs deeper, the painful reality of her past and the complicated love triangle with her two mates forces her to confront everything she thought she knew. Will Innes ever find her child? And if she does, can she heal the wounds of the past, or has the love she once cherished been lost forever?

At just 17, Ella's life takes an unexpected turn when a moment of youthful love leaves her pregnant. Instead of support, she faces rejection—her boyfriend denies responsibility, and her parents cast her out. Alone and desperate, she finds solace in the kindness of Daniel, an old friend who offers her a place to stay. As Ella struggles to rebuild her life, she and Daniel form an undeniable bond, leading to another unplanned pregnancy. Once again, she finds herself at a crossroads—facing the weight of two children, the echoes of past betrayal, and the fear of an uncertain future. But Ella is not the same girl who was abandoned before. With resilience and an unyielding will to survive, she must decide whether love can truly be trusted or if she must forge a new path on her own. A gripping tale of survival, second chances, and the unexpected turns of fate.

**"Leave me alone! Please, just let me go!"** My voice cracked as I thrashed in his iron grip, but it was useless. He scooped me up effortlessly, his hold unyielding, carrying me off to a fate I couldn’t escape. This can’t be happening. Not now. Not like this. "I don’t want this," I whispered, my voice raw with terror. "Please… just let me go." My pleas barely reached his ears, or if they did, he didn’t care. His silence was louder than any threat, his indifference a dagger to my chest. A heartbeat later, my body hit the softness of a king-sized bed, but there was no comfort in it. My tears had nearly dried, leaving only silent sobs wracking my frame. I forced myself to speak, desperation lacing every syllable. "Luciano, please," I choked out. "If I’ve wronged you in any way, I’m sorry. But don’t punish me like this." A deafening crack split the air, and before I could react, fire exploded across my cheek. The force of the slap sent my head whipping to the side, my skin stinging from the brutal contact. The room pulsed with danger. **"No one calls me by my name,"** he growled, his voice like crushed glass—sharp, merciless. **"And no one tells me what to do."** His fingers curled under my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. Cold, dark, and bottomless, his eyes held no mercy, no hesitation. "You will warm my bed," he murmured, his voice dangerously soft, laced with cruel intent. "You will satisfy my every craving, no matter how disastrous, no matter how dark." A wicked smirk ghosted over his lips, his grip tightening. "Because you are mine to break. And no one stops me." He leaned in, his breath fanning against my trembling lips. "Now… come here." --- Story by white pheonix

Zuria’s life has always been a nightmare. Orphaned at a young age and tormented by her cruel uncle and his wife, she had long abandoned any hope for happiness—until she met Arien Calloway, her fated mate and the future Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. For the first time, she felt safe, cherished… loved. But that illusion shattered the moment she caught Arien in another’s embrace. His betrayal was a blade to her heart, and his rejection left her broken. Desperate to escape the pain, she fled, determined to rebuild her life far from the pack that had failed her. In a new city, she found peace. And then she found out she was pregnant. Years later, just when she believes she’s finally free from her past, an unforeseen crisis leaves her with no choice—she must return to the one man who destroyed her. Arien reluctantly agrees to help, but as they navigate the consequences of their choices, old wounds reopen, and buried emotions resurface. Then Elio appears. Mysterious, powerful, and undeniably drawn to her, he is everything Arien is not. But fate is never that simple. As a hidden threat looms, Zuria must decide where her heart truly belongs—before the past consumes her and everything she loves.

Rejected by her mate, she had a one-night stand with a stranger the same day. Selene is ousted by her pack after she's discovered to be pregnant. She returns five years later, only for the Alpha of their pack, who happened to be her mate who rejected her, now wants her back. Will Selene forgive him and get back together? Who's the mysterious man from that night, the father of her triplets?

When Ignacia Rencalle finds out that she's pregnant, she knows that she can no longer stay by the side of the man she loves. She resolves to run away, fearing the consequences of carrying a child of royalty despite being a undesirable beta. But leaving the palace and her position as the First Prince's secretary to hide her pregnancy proves harder than she thought. With time running out before her baby's existence is discovered by its father, Ignacia fights to preserve her loved ones without getting herself killed in the process. Just days after First Prince Aspen Myllena's appointment as crown prince, his beloved resigns from her position and disappears, leaving him confused and suspicious. But when he receives news that the woman he spent his last, unexpected rut with wasn't a stranger but someone else, he knows immediately that something isn't right. With hostile forces plotting against him from every direction, his desperation to know the truth reaches its peak. Pushed to the limits of his patience, Aspen does something that he never thought he would have to resort to: he starts a rebellion.

Three years into her marriage, she never felt loved. When she encountered a car accident in a torrential rain, her husband was celebrating another woman's birthday. When she came to a realization and decided to divorce, her husband disagreed. Only then did she discover that this loveless marriage had been his revenge against her. He had conspired with his ex-girlfriend to take revenge on her by trapping her in this marriage. When she and the ex-girlfriend were kidnapped together, he did not hesitate to choose to save his ex and abandon her. Her heart turned to ashes, and she turned away to jump into the sea. Later on, when she was gradually forgetting him day by day due to her health, he held her, crying and begging her over and over not to forget him. Eventually, when she became the music queen, and at the backstage of the award ceremony, he cornered her backstage, uttering a belated apology, "I'm sorry." She smiled politely, "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

After being adopted, everything was going well until the seed of hatred was planted into a close one leading to death. Survived but switched with severe amnesia. Truth was revealed about identity. After virginity was destroyed and became pregnant. She was expected to fall into despair but her revenge abd wrath destroyed all.

The rising war in her country and the the death of her entire village is the last of Reyna's problems when she's on the run (from her possible rapist) and pregnant. Along her journey she joins a lone traveler who lives a life of freedom she's always craved, and learns to love and care for the little one growing inside of her. For a mom-to-be Reyna goes through far more adventures than is normal but it only makes her cherish her little family even more.

Damen Clarck is in the middle of a war with almost every influential person in the city. He is determined to protect the Clarck farmland and its tenants. But his world was turned upside down when his pregnant girlfriend accidentally killed her employer. The thought of his beloved Isla, carrying their unborn child, behind bars was unbearable. Damen decided to take the blame for the crime. Luckily he is offered a chance to pay bail. He finally surrenders his beloved Clarck farmland, the very thing he had fought so fiercely to protect, trusting Isla to sell the land and secure their future. But betrayal, pain and deceit await him. Damen's sacrifice was met with Isla's ultimate betrayal. She vanished, taking with her the money he had sacrificed his family's legacy to secure. But her betrayal didn't stop there, she reappeared in the courtroom and testified against Damen. Three years later, with the help of a mysterious person he is out of prison a changed and determined man. He wants revenge on all that wronged him. Isla is in for a rude awakening. She had assumed that Damen's desperation to protect her was a result of his financial ruin. But she is yet to discover Damen's sacrifice had not been driven by poverty, but by love. One thing is clear though, Isla would soon discover that crossing Damen Clarck had been the greatest mistake of her life.

Ylva has long borne the weight of her family's disdain, her father's sympathy only serving his own interests. Labeled a curse, she struggles against the tide of life, donning a facade of toughness to mask her inner turmoil. For years, loneliness is her only companion until love unexpectedly enters her life. However, the illusion shatters when Ylva uncovers the true nature of Eric, the man she thought she loved. Devastated and pregnant, she reaches out to him for support, only to be met with denial and coercion into an abortion. The ordeal nearly costs her life as she battles severe illness in the hospital, fighting not just for herself but for her baby's survival. With her father abandoning them for his mistress and her mother proving to be no sanctuary, Ylva finds herself on the brink of homelessness with her mother and younger sister. Just when hope seems lost, an unexpected figure from her past emerges to offer assistance. Determined to protect and nurture her daughter above all else, Ylva vows to face life's challenges head-on while striving for peace within her fractured family. Yet new obstacles arise at every turn. In a desperate bid for independence, she contemplates a hasty marriage to escape her mother's oppressive grasp. Just when Ylva thinks she's prepared to close the chapter on love, someone from her past reenters her life at the most unexpected moment. Join Ylva on her poignant journey as she navigates the complexities of love, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of happiness.

I love you stranger

‘I possessed the female lead who runs away after becoming pregnant with the male lead's child. I know the original story, so there’s nothing to misunderstand!” So, I decided not to run away and instead seduce the male lead... “Quite a convincing act." My pretense of being the tragic original female lead was immediately seen through. “It seems my wife isn’t in the condition for a boat ride.” My desperate attempt at skinship to earn the female lead’s buff was brutally ignored. “Am I truly doomed?” After a moment of despair and grueling effort, I improved my relationship with the male lead and confessed about the pregnancy. But then. “The child.” With the same hand that had gently caressed Dahlia's belly, he softly cupped her cheek. “This way, I’ll have no choice but to kill you myself.” The warmth of his hand on her cheek felt chilling. “Don’t you agree, my wife?” …I should’ve just run away. It seems I’m totally screwed. ................................................................. Disclaimer: All rights to the original content belong to their respective creators. For advance chapters: p@treon.com/ShinningNovelTranslations (replace @ with a) Translated Original Name: 도망 여주가 도망을 안 감 Author: 은가빛.

Trapped in contract love and misunderstandings, Alexis's life spirals out of control. Homeless after her uncle seizes her house and burdened by her father’s illness, her despair deepens when she discovers she’s pregnant with Greyson Whitmore's baby, the billionaire who is already married to the powerful billionaire Clara Everett. Desperate and confused, Alexis decides to tell Greyson about her pregnancy, and her world shifts. Greyson offers her promises of responsibility, care, and even a serious relationship, giving her a glimmer of hope. But the relief is short-lived when she learns Clara is also pregnant—and Greyson is tied to a secret that could destroy everything. The child Clara carries isn’t his, but to protect his family’s reputation, he’s bound by a promise to maintain the lie. Shattered, Alexis runs away, directionless and broken, only to face a greater danger. Clara, determined to protect her own secrets, has a evil plan that could ruin Alexis’s life.

Selene thought she had found her forever when she became the Luna of the Moonveil Pack. But the moment Alpha Darius discovered she carried another man’s child, he shattered her world. Rejected. Branded a traitor. Cast out to die. With nowhere to go and enemies hunting her, Selene stumbles into the forbidden lands of Shadowcrest, the domain of a ruthless Alpha whispered about in fear. Killian is a mystery, a man with golden eyes that see too much and a presence that commands obedience. What she doesn’t know? He is more than an Alpha. He is the exiled Lycan King, a predator hiding among wolves. But Selene is no ordinary rogue. The child she carries holds a dangerous secret, a prophecy that could shift the balance of power in the werewolf world. And there are those who will stop at nothing to claim it. As war looms, Killian offers her protection, but at a cost. Strength. Loyalty. Obedience. She must train, fight, and prove herself to a pack that does not trust her. But the more time she spends with the fierce and enigmatic Alpha, the more fate pulls them together. Yet, trust is a luxury neither can afford. Because in a world where mates betray and monsters wear crowns, love is the most dangerous risk of all. Will Selene rise from the ashes of her past? Or will her enemies tear her apart before she can claim her destiny?

Denara was always kind to everyone, despite being the kind of girl who did not take kindly to anyone. She had a tendency to sacrifice herself for the comfort of others, and even enjoyed helping, but little did she know that her own selflessness would lead to a dark turn in her life. Denara had unwittingly saved a man from a near-fatal accident, his face destroyed and body ridden with wounds. His obsession for Denara grew unabated, and soon she found herself being followed almost daily, waking up every morning feeling heavy and tired. Sudden waves of nausea overcame her, and to her great surprise, she discovered that she was pregnant. Panic surged through her mind, as she tried to piece together how it could be possible that she was carrying a child when she had never had intimate relations with anyone before. In a desperate attempt to resolve the situation, she decided upon the difficult option of an abortion. Little did she know, this plan would be thwarted by the unexpected appearance of Alexander, who issued a chilling threat. "If you dare to harm my offspring, you'll have to go through me first!"

Seraphine, a Luna who is considered a disgrace by her entire pack for having two eye colors, purple and blue. The weakest and most deformed werewolf. Accused of having an affair because she got pregnant not with the Alpha, Denver Stormhowl. Seraphine's desperate defense almost landed her in jail. In an attempt to escape, she falls victim to a brutal attack by the Betas, causing her to fall off a cliff and into the cursed forest, Doomwood. Who would have thought? This forest, which is said to lock up anyone who enters it, hides mysteries and wonders that no one can escape to tell. Will Seraphine survive in this cursed forest? What mysterious powers will she gain while trapped there?

Cesare Caruso, a renowned actor and a global superstar, appeared to have it all—fame, fortune, and an impeccable reputation. Yet, hidden beneath the surface was a secret he had guarded for years—he was an Omega. That carefully guarded secret came crashing down in one fateful night, during a glamorous masquerade ball aboard a luxurious cruise ship. Overwhelmed by an unexpected heat cycle, Cesare loses control of himself, devoured by his own desires and falling into the arms of a mysterious Alpha—a reckless moment that changed everything. [Zahir al-Tamid. That’s my name.] To his shock, the Alpha was Zahir—a proud prince from an oil-rich kingdom and an unwelcome figure from Cesare’s past. Worse, that night left Cesare unexpectedly pregnant! Before Cesare could make sense of it all, Zahir made a grand entrance at Cesare’s mansion by helicopter, uninvited, catching the attention of major media outlets around the world, demanding a settlement claiming that Cesare shall be responsible for ‘imprinting’ a royal family like him! “...Seriously, it’s not as if I have a ludicrous $2 billion just lying around, you know.” “Thus, marry me, Cesare.” Pregnancy, imprinting, and a royal marriage proposal—showered by a series of unwanted events, Cesare is desperate to find a way to cut ties with Zahir. But Zahir, stubborn and relentless, has no plans to let go. Can Cesare outrun the tempest, or will it pull him under? #BL #Omegaverse #Obsessive #Crybaby #One-sideLove #Prince #Superior Text copyright ⓒ 2024 by Kim Sol Da All right reserved. The Korean edition was originally written by 김솔다, Korea Translated and Published by We’ve Lab.

❝I was supposed to be engaged to the love of my life… Instead, I was sold to a crippled stranger on my wedding day.❞ Jamie Zach had been the family’s shame—an omega male in a world where only alphas mattered. Used and discarded by his fiancé, betrayed by his own sister, and left pregnant after a night of cruelty, Jamie had lost everything. To save face, his family forced him into a hasty marriage with Sir Lucien Von Nightshade, a man who never showed his face, a crippled, masked nobleman rumored to be cursed. But his new husband was not what he seemed. Beneath the mask hid a monster… and a king. As Jamie fought to reclaim his life, Lucien watched him from the shadows, dangerous and possessive. While the world mocked Jamie, his husband silently destroyed every enemy in his path. Until one night… when Lucien’s carefully guarded secret was revealed. He was never crippled. He was never weak. He was the last of the pureblood vampires. And Jamie… Jamie was his mate. Now pregnant with a child that could change the supernatural world, Jamie is caught in a war of power, love, and obsession. And his once-crippled husband? He will burn the world down to keep Jamie by his side.

When a unique cultivation game launched its server, it welcomed a sea of players, one of which was Fang Yue. However, he soon realized something strange about the game—it was too difficult to beat. A large number of early players quit the game, but Fang Yue stayed. He then found out something more complicated about the game. Three months later, the Wicked appeared in real life and the game data started to sync with the real world. Everyone was terrified. All the early players returned to the game together with players from all over the world. Simply put, everyone went back into Blue Ocean. However, when they started the game and were being hunted by the Wickeds, they realized that the veteran players’ avatars appeared in a different art style than theirs. Fang Yue exclaimed, “You audacious Wicked! In a single glance, I know you aren’t human!” Fang Yue pleaded: “Wicked, I need you to help me cultivate!” Fang Yue roared, “Wicked! Did I say you can leave? Almighty Heavenly Dragon!

Noah was betrothed to Werewolf Prince Kincade at birth. Her Marriage Contract came with a virginity clause. She knew that a day would come when she would accept her fate and marry this nightmare of man that terrified her, what she didn't except was to meet Kincade for the first time, fall for Kincade...hop on the Kincade Express - tum tum! all in a space of an hour. Except now, the man that was standing in front of her claiming to be the real Kincade, looked nothing like the man, who spent a better part of last night in between her legs. she had been tricked! and worse! she was pregnant for a man she had neither the means or way of contacting. Follow Noah as she navigate the mess she calls her life, while hiding from the world that she was carrying the wrong Alpha's child. p.s cover is not mine. **** "Where's Kincade? Let's get this shit over with, okay?" I said, scanning the hall way for my contracted husband to be. My mother almost fainted but my father bit back a smile. Occasionally, he was the father every little girl pray for. "We will get to that as soon as we get a little thing out of the way" Lady Bridgette said and looked around like she misplaced something of little value. "I suppose any number of these vacant rooms would suffice for the inspection" "What inspection?" I asked no one in particular. The dowager duchess pointed at the room behind us and announced "This would do. Come" she commanded like we were dogs. She said and walked past me and pushed the door open. I was ushered inside the room and when Eva Belle tried to enter, the door was shut in her face. "The mother can stay but I doubt the father is needed, Yolanda" Bridgette spoke over us like we were servants not royalties. Sure, Avalon was the smallest country in the world but an old fart like her had no right to disrespect us. "Hey! Lady! What's going on?" I asked as my father per her request started walking towards the door. "Just do what she says, baby" My father whispered and walked out. I was still confused. "What's going on?!" "Hop on the bed, take off your undies and spread your legs, Nicolette" Lady Bridgette commanded. I almost laughed out loud. "Lady, are you high on fumes?" I asked her and laughed, turning around to laugh at the joke with my mother but she wasn't laughing. "Mom?" "Just do what they say. It would only take a minute, Noah" "A minute to..." "Doctor Stephen is here on behalf of Essex to check...to see...if you are still...intact" my mother murmured. I stood froze. There was nothing remotely funny about this. "They want to check to see if I was a virgin? For real? Is this a joke?" "Just do it" Mother said. "Dad!" I yelled on top of my voice. He couldn't have gone far. "Hop on the bed willingly or you would be restrained" Bridgette threatened.

Davina is a desperate young lady in need of money to redeem her self and her family. Thrown into the world of money and power, just how far will she go to get it?

"Hope is a wall—a fragile one." Hope is a lie, a lie that blinds us from reality. It cultivates sloth and idiocy, making you stagnant whilst others move forward. "Hope gives us expectations." Expectations are like poison, it effectively nurtures the incompetence and ignorance in our being, and being incompetent and ignorant in this world can get one killed in a heartbeat. "Fear is an irrefutable truth." Fear forces you to face the reality of it all, fear is the fuel that makes the flame of desperation burn brighter. "Desperation is like an unstoppable force." It drives people forward, no matter how tired they are. Desperation brings out the most in you, desperation opens doors that have never been opened before. Desperation is like a second chance. "—So let's live in fear and desperation until we meet our demise."